Owner of dead dogs found in dumpster charged with animal cruelty and abandonment

Three dead dogs were thrown into a dumpster behind a Charlotte, Mich. shoe store.

Palm Beach County

Diane Willis, 82, of Brookfield Township pleaded not guilty on Friday to a charge of abandoning a dog and animal cruelty after three of her dogs were found dead in a dumpster behind a Payless shoe store in Eaton County, Mich. reported Detroit CBS.com.

Sonny Rounds, of Eaton Rapids, was charged with the improper burial of animals and pleaded guilty.

Rounds allegedly told authorities the ground was too frozen to bury the dogs. He is scheduled to be sentenced in April.

On January 12, the dogs' bodies were discovered, and authorities believe they had been in the dumpster for days. The dogs may have frozen to death.

After authorities were able to trace the identity of the dogs' owner as belonging to Willis, further investigation in the woman's home ended with Animal Control seizing 15 dogs, 6 cats, rabbits and birds. Some of the dogs have already been placed for adoption.

The deceased dogs were described as a short haired black dog mix breed, a shepherd mix, and a Border collie. Rest in peace pooches.

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